Mechanical stoker



A Sept. 21,1926. 1,600,462

A. B. FAHNESTOCK MECHANICAL STOKER original Filed Sept. 21,1923 2 sheets-shew4 1 sept. 21 1926. 1,600,462

A. B. FAHNESTOCK MECHANICAL STOKER Original Filed Se?? 2l, )92T 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK, OF MANHASSET, NEW' YORK. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO LOCOMOTIVE STQKER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

My invention relates to appliances for rducing coal to portions of suitable size for firing, while in transit vfrom a supply receptacle to the firebox of a locomotive or other steam boiler furnace, and its object is to provide an applianceof such type which shall be of strong and simple construction, and readily adaptable for operation on locoinotives of present standard types', andin the operation of which, lumps of dimensions in excess of requirements shall be crushed to proper size and delivered to the fire b oX with the portion of the supply of coal which is sufficiently line to be used without reduc- 'tion of size.

The' improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a. side view of a mechanism illustrating an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal central section through the same; Fig. 3, a plan view; and, Fig'. 4, a transverse section, on the line a a of Fig. 2.

In the vpractice of my invention, referring descriptively to .the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, fuel is supplied to the crushing mechanism thereof, by any suitable and preferred fuel feeding mechanism, as, for example, the drag chain mechanism set forth inmy co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 664,132, of ,which application, this is a division', said mechanism comprehending a plurality of loops of endless drag chains, 2,

' traversing longitudinally in a feeder trough,

or channel, 1, supported on a frame, 1a.

In the operation of stoker fired' locomotives, it is frequently necessary to supply them vwith run of mine coal, which contains lumps that are too large for proper combustion in-the firebox, and it is manifestly desirable that the should be capable of using ycoal of such cliaracter, when desired.. To this end, a coal crushing mechanism, of substantially the following construction, is preferably provided.

A stationary Crusher member, indicated', as a whole, as 21, is secured to the frame, 1, adjacent the forward ends of the feeding drag chains, 2. The stationary crusher mem- Original application filed September 21, 1923. Serial No. 664,132. Divided and this application led September 16, 1924.

Serial No. 737,999.

ber is a substantial casting, comprising a plurality of vertical longitudinal ribs, 21a, having their forward ends facing towards a movable Crusher member, and connected by upper transverse ribs, 21", and lower transverse ribs, 21. A. shaft, 40, mounted in bearings in the frame, and carrying sprocket wheels, 4, over which the drag chains, 2, traverse, passes through openings in the side walls and ribs of the stationary criisher member, and the chains pass through slots, 21e, of approximately the same width as the chains, between the ribs 21a, said slots being'exten'ded beyond the forward limit of traverse of the chains to leave free openings in the top of the stationary Crusher member. The openings at the front of the stationary member, at the rear of the upper transverse ribs,

21', and between the vertical ribs, 21a, permit such particles of coal as are so small as not to require crushing` to drop into the conveyor casing, 24, without being crushed.

It will be seen that the stationary crusher member is of open work or lattice form, its front face wall being formed with a plurality ofapproximately rectangular openings. Vertical rows of teeth, 21', project from the front wall, between the openings thereof.l

A movable crusher member, 22, of sectoral v form, is fixed on a shaft, 23, which is journalled in the supporting frame, 1, adjacent to its front end, said member having a plurality of sets of teeth, 22a, v-'hichpproject rearwardly from its curved body,'the sets being disposed in parallel vertical planes, andthe outer ends of the teeth in curves eccentric to the axial line of the shaft, 23. Rocking movement, about said axial line, is imparted to the movable criisher member, by a connecting rod, 25, coupled, at one end, to a crank ar1ii,12a,oii a shaft. 12, journalled transversely in the frame, and, at the other, to a crank arm, 23, on the shaft, 23, of the movable crusher member. The shaft, 12, is rotated by any suitable prime mover (not shown) .which rotates a shaft, 9, carrying a pinion, 10,'engaging a spur gear, 11, on the shaft, 12. The shaft` of a screw conveyor, 24, which operates in a casing, 24, and

lil

serves for the delivery of coal from the crushing mechanisml to the firebox of the 'boiler in which it is to be consumed, is also rotated by4 the shaft, 9, through a bevel pinion,9", engaging a similar gear, 27, on a shaft, 27, connected, b v an universal joint to the shaft of the conveyor, 24.

The eccentricity of the teeth of the movable crusher member, 22, relatively to its axis of movement causes them to approach ,the stationary member, in the movements of fthe movable member in the direction of the stationary member, and to recede from the stationary member, in the opposite direction of movement, so as to allow the prelminarily A crushed lumps of coalto drop further into the space between the stationary and movable members. The lumps being supported by the ribs of the stationary member, are struck and broken by the higher projecting teeth of the movable member. The greater portion of the crushed coal, passes through the openings in the stationary member, thus having the effect `Yof quickly freeing the mechanism from crushed material. Any coal remaining, which has not passed through the openings, is dropped into the delivery conveyor on the back stroke of the movable member.

In the o eration of the mechanism herein exempli ed, the continuous supply of coal v "from the coal bin on the tender of the locomotive, or other supply receptacle, to the conveyor by which it'is delivered to the stok- I lng mechanism on the, locomotive, is effected chains and the crushing members is of substantial advantage in providing a structure in which said members aredisposed entirely beyond the traverse ofthe feeder chains, which are thereby completely exempted from injury'and interference with the performance of their normal function, which would result from being subjected tor any crushing strains. The latticed front Wall of ,the stationary crushing member, constitutes its crushing face, which the feeder chains can never approach sufficiently to be subjected to strain o r impairment of their free movements, and, in. their passage through theI longitudinal slots of the stationary crushing member; they permit the smaller particles of coal to'pass along the slots and l rop into the conveyor casing, and push only the lumps into the crushing zone.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent: f

1. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a traversing feeding mechanism for advancing all of the fuel; a stationary crushing member, operative at a point beyond the adjacent terminal ofthe traverse of said feeding mechanism, in position to receive coal therefrom and separated from said terminal to permit the discharge of fine coal; a movable crushing member, oscillat able towards and from the`stationary crushing member; and a delivery mechanism for conveying coal from the feeding mechanism and the crushing mechanism to a steam boiler firebox. y

2. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traversing feeding mechanism; a stationary crushing member, operative at 'a point beyond the adjacent terminal of the traverse thereof, in position to receive coarse coal therefrom, in advance of its working-l face and permit the discharge of fine coal'- to the rear of said member; amovable crushing member, oscillatable towards and from the stationary crushing member, and a delivery mechanism for conveying coal from the feeding mechanism and the crushing mechanism to a steam boiler Iirebox.l

3. In a'mechanical Stoker, the combina.- 'tion of a traversing endless drag chain fuel feeder; a stationary crushing member, operative at a point beyond the' adjacent terminal of the traverse thereof, in position to receive coal therefrom, and slotted at top for the traverse of the drag chain and the dis# charge of particles of coal not requiring crushing; a movable crushing member, ,0scillatable towards 'and from the stationary crushing member; and a delivery mechanism for conveying coal from the crushing mechno anism to a steam boiler irebox.

4. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a'traversing feeding mechanism; a, stationary crushing member, operative at a point beyond the adjacent terminal of the traverse thereof, said Crusher member being provided with coal delivery passajges, located between the feeding mechanism and its operative face; a movable crusher member,

oscillatabl'e towards and from the stationary crusher member; and a delivery mechanism for conveying coal from the crushing mechanism to a steam boiler irebox.,

5. In amechanical Stoker, the combina- 'tion of a traversing feeding mechanism including a trough and a plurality of endless drag chains operating therein, a stationary crushing member operative at a point beyond the termini of the traverse of s aiddrag chains on coarse vfuelconveyed thereby and provided with passagesdjacent said termini l to. permit the discharge of fine fuel, amovable crusher member oscillatable toward and from'the stationary crusher member, and a delivery mechanism for conveying all of the/ ,fuel to a steam-boiler furnace.

6.v In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a traversing feeding mechanism; a crushing mechanism, operative at a point beyond the adjacent terminal of the traverse of the feeding mechanism, and comprising spaced apart stationary and movable crushers, adapted to permit the discharge 'of line coal between the feedin stationary member, an the de sit of large coal between the stationary an the movable members; and a delivery mechanism for conveying all of the coal to a steam boiler firebox. v

7. In. a mechanical stoker, a stationary crusher member, comprising a longitudinally slotted upper plate, and a dependin face portion slots. l l v 8. In combination, a bin having a llatbotmechanism and the lin which are formed a lplu v ity of" tom', a crusher positioned toreceive material from the bin, mechanism for advancin aterial to the crusher, and a riddle locate 1/ betwen the crusher and the zonel 'of action of the advancing means and overvwhi'ch the material is ushed. l

9. In com ination, abin having a fiat bottom and a discharge opening at its bottom, mechanism for advancing material to such opening, and a riddle partially crossingthe opening from the side thereof to which the fuel is advanced. vy 10. In combination, a fuel bin having a Adischarge opening at its bottom, a conveyor receiving from the opening -for delivering to a furnace, endless dra chains crossing the bottom of the bin'and elivering to the opening, a crusher interposed between the opening and the conveyor and rovided with openings for the passage of conveyor without subjecting it to crushing action.

DAM B. FAHNEsTocK. 

